Why Women Remain Vulnerable – Socio-Political Causes?

Public outrage after the brutal rape and murder of the 23 year old student, “Nirbhaya,” in Delhi on 16 December 2012 has focused greater attention on necessity for holistic measures for security and safety of women. Sadly despite a strong legislation there has been no reduction in incidents of assault and physical abuse of women underlining larger socio-political ills and environmental changes in Indian society today. The underlying trends may seem aberrations in male behavior but these have become so pronounced in recent times and their ill effects so damaging to society at large that these need blunt assertion.

Briefly stated these include rapidly transforming socio economic landscape, urbanization, and cross-cultural migration. Studies and surveys reveal that basic aggression in male behavior patterns has created a sense of insecurity in women. Biological proclivity of men to sexual aggressiveness has not been affected by the larger movement for gender equality.

Ironically as more women are entering the work space, their vulnerability seems to have increased. Despite financial and material security women continue to be victims at home and outside to male chauvinism which manifests in some cases in mental and physical violence sexual assault and rape being it’s most venal form.

A manifestation of rapid socio economic transition is social inequality leading to a class of under privileged whose depravation can lead to aggression directed against women of all socio-economic classes who are easy victims in vulnerable settings in which Nirbhaya found herself in December 2012. At the other end of the spectrum in the affluent world is the dominant male in a work setting where he can unashamedly exploit his position of power.

Cases of acid attacks on women could be seen as another vector of violence that exclusively targets females by rejected males who attack the face, symbol of feminine persona.

Sexual harassment at the workplace is common with a 2010 survey indicating that 88 percent of women who work in large numbers in the IT/ITES sector have faced some form of persecution. Though as the current public debate indicates all professions seem equally vulnerable. To those working in less privileged jobs exploitative maltreatment may be even more brutal.

These factors suggest amongst others that despite a perceived change of status of women, increased vigilance and stricter laws, violence against women is likely to be a worry for some time to come. More over the trend is not India centric but affects all countries in varied ways.

Preventives are the best form of safety for which a Do’s and Don’ts framework provides practical guidelines for women to preserve themselves under varied circumstances. Do’s and Don’ts for women safety and security in India are thus covered in four parts in succeeding paragraphs as follows:-

1. Know Your Rights as a Woman
2. Common Tips– Applicable at all Times
3. Do’s
4. Don’ts

Knowing Your Rights as a Woman

Women are empowered by society as well as legally, simply speaking some basic rights that are universal applied to both genders but specifically for women include the following:-

• Rights as a woman for dignity and respect that implies no male of any age has the right to make advances at a woman tease or sexually harass her.
• A privilege to respect under all circumstances. No one has the rights to make women uncomfortable, whether at work place, home or on the streets, whether in school, college or in a social gathering.
• Rights to physical and mental security. No one has the rights to use physical force, torture physically or mentally, or coerce women in any way, no matter relationship with that person.
• Privilege to complain. Women have all the rights to complain when violated even in the smallest way. Take advice and adopt the correct course under such circumstances, whatever is the status of the individual, be it boss, relative or a neighbourhood bully.
• Rights as a women employee for security by the organization as per Visakha guidelines for prevention of sexual harassment at the workplace.
• Violence physical or mental against women is not her fate as is made out to be in some cases. Dominant behavior is not anyone’s right and not a women’s destiny, thus complaining against the same is in perfect order.

Common Tips – Applicable at all Times

Whatever be the situation or circumstances, there are some constants that are applicable to women’s safety and security these are as follows:-

• Women should be highly concerned about own security especially during vulnerable time as at night and at sensitive locations.
• Mental strength may be more important than physical power, develop a strong will to resist male advances. As noted female activist, Malala Yousafzai said, “If 10 men stare at me in the market I just stare back at them (and they wilt away)”.
• Develop an instinct for trouble and take evasive measures.
• Inclement weather, night, darkness or odd hours are vulnerable times for any woman as much as but more so than others are.
• Isolated places increase level of vulnerability. These can be secluded buildings, parking lots, staircases or even lifts.
• Cyber space has created a new set of challenges for women, be fully cognizant of the threats in use of social media and internet fraud.
• Getting away or escaping from a situation is more sensible than confronting it, remember a cat has nine lives because it skillfully escapes death the other eight times.
• Take a self defence course if possible and at least some form of exercise that will help keep fit and active thereby evading force.
• Nobody is immune to being violated there are examples of women violated in the most affluent homes.

Do’s for women

• Do be aware and accept that women are more vulnerable and the phenomenon is not restricted to India.
• Seek information and develop awareness of local security and safety situation for women in the city, town and the locality in which you live.
• Do be culturally sensitive in your behavior or while dressing, based on the place you are visiting or time of day. This is plain common sense.
• Do wear clothes and footwear that help in running or escaping quickly especially when going to an outdoor event or at night where you are likely to be vulnerable.
• Do keep an eye for suspicious men or women lurking around, avoid taking lifts offered by stranger(s) and avoid traveling in near vacant public transport system.
• Do alert the security or raise alarm in case you encounter a suspicious person or vulnerable situation.
• Do save emergency numbers on your phone and ring these regularly to check that they actually work especially when you travel from one city to another.
• Do download application that sends distress messages from your cell phones, test it a number of times including reaction of the people on the other side so that they are prepared to help you in an emergency.
• Do inform your travel routine particularly at night and odd hours; ask for call back from relatives or friends at fixed times without having to call up.
• Do inform office security staff and home in the case of a breakdown of an office cab or when you are the last passenger to be dropped.
• Do keep your car or scooter in the best condition to avoid a breakdown particularly if you are likely to travel at night. In case of a doubt take alternate means of transport.
• Do have a hammer or rod in the glove compartment to break open the window in case of a being locked in the car in the case of an emergency.
• Do equip your car with emergencies when you are going long distance
• Do ensure you lock your car from inside while traveling at night.
• Do take the elevator instead of stairs unless the elevator is occupied by a suspicious person(s).
• Do get off from the elevator in case a suspicious person gets in and you are alone.
• Do lock and latch your house at all times and do not open the door to strangers. Install electronic alarms amongst other safety devices.
• Do plan your outstation travel in such a way that you arrive at the destination even if it is your hometown during day light hours. In case you are arriving late call a relative or friend to pick you up, do not hesitate to cause them inconvenience.
• Do hire cabs from standard travel companies who rent radio cabs with GPS. If staying in a hotel, hire a cab from the hotel renting service.
• Do check the safety and security arrangements when staying in a hotel room. Prefer rooms with electronic keys and check who holds duplicates.
• Do be cautious in making new friends while traveling particularly male friends.
• Do have only relatives, well-known and reliable friends on Facebook, who are long time acquaintances, scrupulously avoid making, “friends,” with strangers on social media.
• Do use social media as Facebook and Twitter for keeping your friends informed of your whereabouts.
• Do travel in women only compartments or buses where these are provided. Avoid common facilities.
• Do keep items as a whistle to raise an alarm, pepper spray and strong flash light in your purse. You can also use your purse as a weapon in an emergency. Practice using these.
• Do keep your visiting card in your purse so that in case of an accident, your identity can be established.
• Do know vulnerable points of the male anatomy in case you have to use force, these are mainly groin, throat, eyes and knees.
• Do learn to use your elbow, knees and fingernails these are strong points of women and can hurt when it strikes the right spots.
• Do keep a pet dog, if fond of pets and if you have to move out of the house take the pet where feasible especially at night.
• Do educate your female children to reject physical contact by strangers and report the same immediately on occurrence.
• Do ensure proper lighting of entrance to your house or flat. The exit side should be at least 60 percent more luminous than the entrance so that you are able to clearly see a person outside without exposing yourself.

Don’ts

• Do not hesitate in strongly objecting to misbehavior the first time it happens, if you ignore it once it will only encourage the person towards more objectionable conduct later.
• Do not visit a suspicious location alone and never at night or in the evening hours.
• Do not travel alone at night as most Indian cities are unsafe, single travel at night in suburbs should be particularly avoided.
• Do not travel in public transport alone, in case you find yourself alone it is better to get down at a safe place rather than continue the journey especially at night. Ring and seek help.
• Do not join protests or crowds unless you are in a strong multi gender group, molestation is a common complaint at such events whatever be the cause as anti socials may take advantage.
• Do not make unnecessary eye contact with strangers, but when doing so display confidence. Exchanging frequent glances with strangers can be misinterpreted.
• Do not engage in conversation with a strange man; discourage small talk particularly if you are alone.
• Do not show unnecessary sympathy for a stranger and beware of a ruse, sometimes women decoys are used by criminals to lure female victims.
• Do not establish routine in terms of timings or route while going for work or for a walk, change your timings and routes frequently as far as possible.
• Do not hesitate in reporting a suspicious person, activity or object or raising an alarm as loudly as possible and call for help to dissuade a potential attacker. It is better to end being sheepish then sorry. Shout ‘Bachao bachao’ or words to this effect
• Do not give up if under threat or attack, look for the earliest opportunity to escape.
• Do not show fear, assailants are encouraged by persons who panic.
• Do not use ATMs to draw money at night or in early morning hours when alone.
• Do not carry large number of credit cards at any one time, loss of purse may lead to compromise of your accounts.
• Do not wear expensive jewelry especially chain or heavy gold bangles when alone or display it. If you have to wear jewelry remove it after the event rather than displaying it while traveling especially at night.
• Do not carry jewelry while traveling, artificial trinkets can serve the same purpose.
• Do not accept food or drinks from strangers especially while traveling.
• Do not consume excessive alcohol or allow your male companions to do so at social events which can expose you or create vulnerability.
• Do not drive after consuming alcohol or allow your male companions to do so.
• Do not allow your social behavior to be mistaken as making advances by men.

Conclusion

The advisory essentially outlines basic precautions and emergency measures to be taken by women given the prevalent environment. Our society respects gender equity over the ages and only a small percentage of men can be regarded as predators however for a victim this is small solace. Thus the Do’s and Don’ts are charted to prevent exposure to the minority who may use their gender biases for aggression, mental or physical. The proverb, better be safe than sorry can be most appropriately applied to women. Erring on the positive side is therefore advisable.

Some simple Do’s and Don’ts have been outlined in the preceding paragraphs, making these a habit would create an instinct for an impending hostile situation and provide women with a safety shield deterring an adverse situation.

Written in public interest jointly with Col NN Bhatia (Retd), Industrial Security Consultant

ribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 2

The Army has asked the officer-in-charge (OIC) of the Ex-servicemen’s Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) polyclinic in Chandigarh, whose contract was not being extended earlier, to rejoin his duties following a rap by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

He is expected to join duty tomorrow after receiving a letter to this effect from the Station Headquarters, Chandimandir.

The officer, Col KVPS Hundal (retd), had filed a contempt petition before the high court after he was ‘forcibly’ removed from his office by Army authorities even though the high court had ordered a stay on the dispensing away of his services on the expiry of the contractual period.

Col Hundal had been engaged as the OIC of the polyclinic on a contractual basis for 12 months from November 8, 2018, to November 7, 2019. A letter issued by the Station Headquarters, Chandimandir, on November 7, 2019, stated that the extension of the tenure beyond November 7 had not been approved and his employment hence stood terminated.

On November 7, a single Bench of the high court, comprising Justice Arun Monga, had ordered that status quo shall be maintained qua services of Col Hundal as on date a day prior to the last date of expiry of the contract. He had also sent copies of the orders to the Station Headquarters a day before the expiry of the contract.

He had moved the high court on November 6, a day before the contract was to end. He has contended that the one-year term is extendable by another year and if there is nothing adverse against a person, a contractual employee cannot be replaced by another contractual employee. He also said he was not given any prior notice about the contract not being renewed, but issued the letter on the last day.

Students of Nishan-e-Sikhi School, Khadoor Sahib, during their visit to the Punjab State War Memorial and Museum in Amritsar on Monday.

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 2

In the run-up to the Military Literature Festival, 2019, scheduled to be held in Chandigarh from December 12 to 15, the Punjab State War Memorial and Museum hosted cultural activities and sessions by military historians for students and families of the armed forces. The two-day event was kicked off at the War Memorial and Museum with Major General Raj Mehta and historian Prof Radha Sharma sharing some anecdotes from some of the historic battles.

Talking about the Battle of fought between Khalsa forces led by Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Afghan tribals in 1823, Radha Sharma shared the history of one of the greatest military victories of Sikh Khalsa forces. “The battle was fought between Pathan tribes of the Yusufzais, Khattaks and Afridis and Maharaja Ranjit Singh armies. Prince Sher Singh, son of Maharaja Ranjit Singh and Hari Singh Nalwa led the battalion and the Battle of Attock fought by Maharaja Ranjit Singh was historic as well. Great Sikh warriors, including Akali Phula Singh and Hari Singh Nalwa, needed to be re-introduced to the younger generation through such endeavours. Punjab, a land that has always been vulnerable to foreign invaders, has a rich martial legacy that needs to be shared with the current generation as a reminder of the past.” Major General Raj Mehta, an illustrious former serviceman, also shared some interesting war stories from his time while serving in insurgency-torn Kashmir.

The highlight of the day was the screening of a documentary, Half Moon Stories, an account of recorded messages of the prisoners of war during World War I at the Half Moon Camp in Germany. The audience that included families of serving officers and students listened to the voices of the Indian soldiers held captive in Germany during World War I and how they missed their families and shared their stories. “It was heartening to listen to these voices and their stories more than 100 years ago, talking about their home and what they missed about it,” said Col HP Singh, project director, War Memorial and Museum.

The recordings were kept at Humboldt University’s Sound Archive, Lautarchiv, Berlin, until they were de-classified and made public. The documentary featured voices of 70 Indian soldiers, including those from Amritsar, Mogam and Ludhiana who were serving in 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, 47th Sikhs and 4th Gurkha Rifles during the time, along with detailed information of the soldiers. The documentary was screened by Col Praminder Singh Randhawa, who had researched on the project.

Brig Satinder Singh (retd), director, Defence Services Department, said next year, bigger events would be planned for the War Memorial and Museum under the Military Literature Festival. “Given the significance of Amritsar as an important military as well as historical city with a great martial legacy, it serves as a perfect setting for organising such events. Also, the young generation should be made aware of the India’s military heritage.”

DURING the afternoon of December 3, 1971, as we played baseball in the open area at Drass, our Commanding Officer, Lt Col BS Joshi, was called over to the Brigade Headquarters. He smiled, taking long strides as he walked past us to his jeep. Eruption of a war was imminent, but that could not deter our festivities. Drass is the second coldest inhabited place after Siberia, and located at a height of 10,500 ft. The icy breeze could not dampen our spirits; it could only redden Gulshi Bhola’s cheeks. Holding the baseball bat like a hockey stick, Balkar Singh Gill’s shots tore into the opposing team, making them pant for breath while chasing the ball in the uneven high altitude area. Major Sarjit Singh Sahota roared with laughter, putting the overhanging roaring clouds to shame. The sheer weight of our hefty coat parkas impeded our running, so everyone awaited his turn to hold the bat and hit the ball. The game ended abruptly when the Quarter Master, Pritam Singh, whizzed away as if he was chasing the devil on its tail. For us there could be no sleep that night. Packing, fastening the weapons and equipment, we took off time to sit up, with legs tucked in our sleeping bags to listen to Indira Gandhi’s midnight address to the nation over radio. She had announced, ‘We are at war with Pakistan.’

My battalion, 18 Punjab, was tasked to capture Brachil Pass at a height of 13,990 ft. We concentrated astride the Srinagar-Kargil highway at Kala Pahar, which had a sparse growth of rhododendron bushes. These bushes could be lit up to ward off the extreme unbearable cold, but tiny sparkles were thrown up from these fires and a ‘khad-khad’ type of sound emanated, but all this was ignored, because the fires provided the much-needed soothing warmth. Some men would sit in semi-circles around these small fires, with their palms and feet extended towards the bush fires, while others held up their socks to dry. The sun played hide and seek with the clouds, appearing momentarily, soon to be covered by the clouds, till it finally went down beyond the surrounding high mountains. The russet sky turned grey as shades of twilight spread across the valleys. The mountains around Kala Pahar became gloomy high walls. There was no inhabitation on the neighbouring mountain slopes, except for enemy posts that dotted the surrounding peaks. At last light on December 6, we stealthily descended from Kala Pahar into Pakistani territory. Later the valleys had reverberated with the echo of unabated firing of multitudinous weapons and shouts of our war cry, ‘Har Maidan Fateh’, which had reached a crescendo. Brachil Pass was captured after an arduous battle, through sheer grit and determination. This opened the passage for further operations and earned the Battle Honour — Brachil and Wali Malik — for 18 Punjab.

A high-powered panel constituted for creating the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), its powers and hierarchy in the forces has submitted its report to the government. File photo

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 2

A high-powered panel constituted for creating the post of Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), its powers and hierarchy in the forces has submitted its report to the government.

The implementation committee was constituted after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the creation of the CDS post on August 15. “The said committee has submitted its report,” the Ministry of Defence informed the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

The committee has determined the exact responsibilities, besides an enabling framework, for the CDS, who will be tasked with ensuring synergy in training, logistics, planning and procurements among the Army, Navy and the IAF.

The panel has reportedly suggested that the CDS be a four-star general, but will be senior to the three Service Chiefs, sources said. This will ensure that the British-time structures of the three forces that made them work separately are merged in a manner to ensure togetherness.

Modi made the announcement from the ramparts of the Red Fort during his speech to mark the 73rd Independence Day celebrations. The CDS was suggested by the Kargil Review Committee. Since then, the matter has taken several twists and turns with the services getting involved in a turf war of sorts.

At present, the senior-most among the Service Chiefs is made the Chairman the Chiefs of Staff Committee (CoSC). Their tenures are very short. Army Chief Gen Bipin Rawat is the present CoSC chairman till his retirement on December 31 and he had taken over three months ago on October 1. Before him, Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa started his tenure on June 1, which ended with his superannuation on September 30. The government has, over the past few years, stressed on joint operations, the reason being cost factor. The Ministry of Defence spends some 16 per cent of the country’s budget and still needs more. Of this spending, some can be reduced by merging the logistics, training and procurement.

A CDS is likely to be followed up by re-organising single-service commands into integrated theatre commands for better synergy in joint operations. At present, there are 19 commands, including the Strategic Forces Command and the Andaman and Nicobar Command, spread across the three services. This year, new divisions have been raised for aerospace, cyber and special force.

CDS to be First among equals

• The CDS will be senior to the three service chiefs and will ensure togetherness in the forces
• A special panel has determined exact responsibilities and an enabling framework for the CDS
• Major countries such as the US, United Kingdom and China have already taken this route
• 16% of India’s budget goes to defence, some of which can be cut by merging logistics, training and procurement

Our Correspondent

Abohar, December 2

Dr Bal Krishan Kurve, coordinator, Indian Campaign to Ban Landmines, has said India and Pakistan should sign an international treaty to stop use of landmines near borders.

Relatives of persons affected by landmines and coordinators of the Fazilka and Sriganganagar chapters of the NGO were also present on the occasion.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Indian Institute for Peace Disarmament and Environment Protection in Sriganganagar on Sunday evening, Dr Kurve said 151 countries had responded positively to the call given by the UN-based organisation, but the US, Russia, China, India and Pakistan were still reluctant in inking the treaty.

Signing of the treaty by India and Pakistan would be considered as a major step towards restoring peace in the subcontinent, he observed.

Dr Kurve claimed that the number of casualties due to landmines across the world had come down from 30,000 per annum to 5,000 in past few years. He said Illiterate villagers could not be expected to realise that the objects they had found in the fields were explosive landmines.

“Comprehensive efforts are needed to educate border residents while laying landmines,” he said.

Sub-Lieutenant Shivangi

Sub-Lieutenant Shivangi of the Indian Navy became first naval woman pilot and joined operational duties at Kochi base on Monday

Hailing from Muzzafarpur in Bihar, Shivangi will fly Naval Dornier surveillance aircraft. “It is a very proud feeling for me. It is a different feeling,” she said

She will continue her training at INAS 550, the Dornier squadron at INS Garuda, to become a fully operational pilot on Maritime Reconnaissance (MR) aircraft. pti

Despite the Supreme Court’s reservations, General Bajwa will have his way

Signs of change? It remains to be seen if the court’s exercise of quasi-judicial independence will be a passing episode or help change the civil-military equation.

Vivek Katju
Ex-secretary, ministry of external affairs

For three days, Pakistan was gripped by the Supreme Court drama regarding army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s continuance in office after the expiry of his conventional three-year ‘term’ on November 28. The court initially suspended PM Imran Khan’s decision that Bajwa would serve for an additional three years. However, finally after many quick twists and turns in the case, the court allowed Bajwa to what amounts to a provisional continuance for six months and more later, subject to the enactment of necessary legislation.

While the court gave the government and Bajwa relief, it also caused them deep embarrassment. Pakistan army chiefs are larger-than-life figures who inspire awe and fear in the country’s political class and the public. Now the people saw the judges, at least for a few days, treat the army chief’s post as any other governed by the laws of the country and the directions of the court.

 Imran Khan is not the first Pakistani head of government to extend the tenure of an army chief. PM Yousaf Raza Gillani, who belonged to the Pakistan’s People’s Party led by then President Asif Zardari, gave a three-year extension to then army chief Ashfaq Kayani. Army chief Zia-ul-Haq, who ousted PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto in July 1977 in a military coup, became the President of the country, but continued as army chief till his military aircraft exploded in the sky in August 1988. Pervez Musharraf, who was appointed army chief in 1998 by PM Nawaz Sharif, deposed him in October 1999 in a military coup and became President, but he retained the army chief’s position till he appointed Kayani to that post in November 2007.

Neither Zia-ul-Haq nor Musharraf would have allowed the judiciary to examine the validity of their continuing as army chiefs for these long periods. It seems that no one asked the judges to take up the issue of the validity of Kayani’s extension, but even if it was brought before the court, it is doubtful if it would have gone into the issue. This time it did because of the personality of Chief Justice Asif Saeed Khosa who has a well-earned reputation for being a fearless, if a somewhat maverick judge, who looks into the law and the facts of a case and is not swayed by other considerations.

 The current Pakistan constitution mandates that appointments of defence services chiefs, including the army chief, will be made by the President on the advice of the PM. The problem is that neither the constitution nor the laws and the rules governing the army provide for a tenure for the army chief or for his extension or reappointment. All this has been managed till now through the practices followed by the army. When the court asked the government the basis for giving extension to Bajwa it could not do so convincingly. Worse, it began to offer contradictory submissions. The court’s final order noted the government ‘moved from one position to another’.

Ultimately, the judges, despite their scathing observations during the hearing, accepted the fiction that the President had appointed Bajwa as army chief with effect from November 28, 2019, in terms of the constitution. They overlooked the obvious fact that he had served as the army chief for three years. They also accepted the government’s assurance that the practice relating to the tenure, extension and reappointment would be codified in an Act of parliament. They ordered that Bajwa’s current ‘tenure’ would be for six months and would be subject to the conditions of the new legislation. The court also stated that it was exercising judicial restraint because of the army chief’s responsibilities. This was contrary to its earlier position which stressed the role of the army as an institution and not of an individual.

While the government will bring in legislation to fill the lacunae pointed out by the court, the question is: will this exercise of quasi-judicial independence be only a passing episode or will it help in changing the civil-military equation or reduce the aura of the office of the army chief? These questions go to the heart of Pakistan’s polity and this judicial action must be judged through seeking answers to these queries.

All things considered, a serving army chief is the most significant public office-holder in Pakistan. During periods of civilian rule, the army allows the PM to choose the chief from among the eligible generals, but once chosen, he becomes the country’s real power centre. That stated the army generally also wants a chief to retire after his term is over, even if it has gone along with extensions in the past. Thus, after the legislation if extensions for the chief become difficult in the future, the army will not be unhappy.

The army controls Pakistan’s security policies and crucial areas of foreign policy. This judgment does not concern itself with these matters. It will therefore not strengthen the civilian leadership to spread its wings in these domains. If anything, it has profiled the civilian leadership as inept and therefore added to the impression that it cannot be trusted with the security of the country. It will, therefore, not impact on the basics of the civil-military relationship.

This case is unlikely to strengthen the judiciary, for when this matter was ongoing the Islamabad High Court prevented the special court hearing the Musharraf treason case from delivering its verdict. Thus, some judges may show some independence, but the institution will continue to be careful and circumspect in dealing with the army.